Contracting with the federal government is a highly regulated process governed by a maze of statutes and regulations. Government contracts law involves assisting businesses in complying with the complex set of procedures that must be followed in order for companies to provide goods and services to governments (federal, state or municipal) or challenging the actions of the government or a third party in entering into or executing a government contract for goods or services.
Vineyard Haven is a census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Tisbury on Martha's Vineyard in Dukes County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 2,048 at the 2000 census. Known by the original Wampanoag inhabitants as Nobnocket, this area was first referred to by the colonial settlers as Homes Hole; "Homes" from a Wampanoag term for "old man," and "Hole" meaning a sheltered inlet. By the 1800s it was more commonly spelled Holmes Hole after the descendants of John Holmes (1730–1812) who had settled in the village during the second half of the eighteenth century. In 1871 the village officially changed its name to Vineyard Haven. Though the name Vineyard Haven technically refers only to one section of the town of Tisbury, the names are used interchangeably, with Vineyard Haven now being a commonly used title for the whole town. Vineyard Haven is the main port of entry to Martha's Vineyard, and one of the three main population centers. The Steamship Authority wharf is located in Vineyard Haven, at which ferries arrive and depart year-round. (A second, seasonal wharf is located in neighboring Oak Bluffs. ) Although the year-round population is only about 2,000 people, its population increases tremendously in the summer, as most houses on the Vineyard are owned by summer residents.